Trucking Industry Terms

by

Jason Bandril

Back-Haul

A back-haul is moving freight from the destination point back to point of origin. If a trucker takes a load from point A to point B, the back haul is a load going from point B back to point A.

Bill of Lading

A bill of lading is the shipping document that transfers the title, or ownership, of the freight from one party to another.

Bobtail

A bobtail is a tractor that operates without a trailer. This also refers to a straight truck or “a two axle truck with the van permanently attached to the chassis,” according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Chassis and Chassis Weight

The chassis of a truck is a long, thin steel frame on wheels, according to the IRS. This attaches to the truck in order to haul containers. The chassis weight is the weight of the truck without a load on it or occupants in it. The chassis weight is also known as the tare weight.

Yardgoat

A yardgoat is a tractor, according to the IRS, with a short turning radius. It is used to pull trailers or containers for hauling in the freight yard. It doesn’t pull them on roads.

Cargo Handler

A cargo handler is a person who loads freight into trailers. Other terms for a cargo handler are: a lumper, swamper, stevedore or longshoreman. Lumpers usually load agricultural freight like fruits and vegetables whereas a longshoreman or stevedore loads ocean freight. A swamper is truck driver’s assistant who helps load and unload whatever freight the trucker is carrying.

Common Carrier

A common carrier is a freight transportation company or sole driver acting as his own company who serves the general public for transport jobs. He may offer a regular route or take unscheduled trips on irregular routes, depending on where he is authorized to serve.

Deadhead

A deadhead is a truck driving without a trailer.

RFID

Radio Frequency Identification or RFID is used to locate a product in transit anywhere in the world, according to the IRS. RFID tags can be very small, as small as a grain of rice, notes the IRS.

Reefer

This is a nickname, or trucking term, for a refrigerated truck.

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Trucking Industry Terms